Pouring spout



Patented Sept. Z8, 1943 non POURING sronr l Alexander Parsons, Minneapolis,` Minn., assigner to Pillsbury Flour Mills Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware f Application Aprn 19, 1941, serial No. vtratos y .2 claims. (01221-41) This invention relates to pouring spouts for containers, and particularly tothe general type of trough-shaped spout which is hingedly conc nected with an apertured portion of a container and has its body or trough vbottom constructed to close the container aperture when swung inwardly.

Such spouts have been extensively usedin containers constructed of sheet metal, cardboard and other sheet material.

In many instances the body of the trough-like ymember has beenhingedly associated Withrbut not attached to, a lip projecting from one of the short ends ofthe apertured portion of the container. With sheet metal and relatively stiff cardboard containers such structures have been quite satisfactory, but with container walls constructed of relatively flexible material such as thin cardboard, the lip and other edges of the wall defining the aperture usually weaken or flex with repeated use of the spout, with the result that such spouts often become displacedor detached either inwardly or outwardly of the-container.

In some instances where containers of more flexible material, such as relatively thin cardboardfwere utilized, parts of the spoutv were crimped or clipped to an edge of the apertured portion of the container formingy a permanent connection to provide a hinge axis. Such permanent connection, however, required machinery, special tools or hand operations, increasing the cost of manufacture and assembly of the container and spout.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pouring spout for containers of lsheet wall construction, and particularly adapted for containers having relatively flexible walls such as the cardboard containers extensively used in packaging granular food products, whereby` an eilicient hinge connection is obtained between the spout and apertured container wall without requiring the securing together of the parts, while, nevertheless, eliminating displacement or detachment of the spout inwardly or outwardly of the` that its hinge connection with and retention in an apertured container wall is not dependent upon the rigidity or wearing qualities of a lip ortab for other' edges of the container which define `the discharge opening, but on the other hand is lprovided with abutment meanson the side edges of the body adjacent the hinge axis for preventing inward displacement of the spout, and is further provided with means also adjacent the hinge axis for abutting the inner wall of the apertured container both in the fully open and closedpositions of the spout to preventoutward displacement.

. These and other objectsV and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughouttheseveral views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of a package or relatively thin cardboard container having an embodiment of my improved spout applied thereto;

Fig. 2is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, with the spout in its closed position;

Fig. 3 is a similarfvertical section with the spout in its open or pouring position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from w ich my improved spout is formed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the completed pouring spout formed from the blank shown in Fig. 4, and y Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the wall of the container and the constructionvof the discharge opening formed therein for reception of the spout.

My improved pouring spout is preferably oonstructed integrally from a sheet of thin material, such as non-corrosive sheet metal having some degree of resiliency. The shape of the blank is clearly shown in Fig. 4f.. Such blanks may be very inexpensively andrapidly die-cut from flat sheet material.

My improved spout is of general trough shape Y a finger piece by which the spout may be swung from closed to` open position. A pair of sectorshaped wings 8 extend substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinal edges of the spout body having their curved edges 8a disposed substantially concentrically of the lower edge 'lb of the spout which represents approximately the hinge axis. The lower or straight edges 8b of the wings 8, as shown, lie substantially in a plane with the lower edge lo of the spout body, although this relationship may be varied considerably, all within the scope of the invention. Extending from `said edges 8b of each of the wings are forward and rear abutment lugsc and 8d, respectively, both extending perpendicularly to the plane of the wing, and the forward abutment lug Sc, as clearly shown in Figs. i and 5, having its forward edge substantially aligned or very slightly disaligned from the adjacent Vlongitudinal edge lb of the spout body, The rear abutment lug 8b of each wing is preferably positioned adjacent the outer free corner of the wing, although it may be spaced somewhat forwardly thereof or, if desired, a continuous flange maybe substituted for lugs 8c and 3d extending substantially the full Vlength of the wing edges 8b. The body l of the spout is provided adjacent the lower or hinge edge lo with aV pair of outwardly and laterally projecting abutment lugs ld., which may be conveniently struck up from the stock of the adjacent portions ofthe wings and which lie preferably in the plane of the body l.

While the trough-shaped spout,ias shown, has

a substantially rectangular body 'I with parallel the container for reception and accommodation of the spout of substantially the general shape of the spout body fl, but preferably having a straight, short edge Sa at one end of the opening adapted to be overlapped slightly by the convexly curved finger piece lc of the spout, and preferably, although not necessarily, having a concayely curved, upwardly extending lip 9b at the opposite end of the opening against which the hinge edge .1b of 'the spout is adapted to bear to facilitate the hinge action.

My spout, as constructed in Fig. 5, may be quickly and easily applied to the container be" fore or after the same is packed, by first engaging the longitudinal edges Se dening the container discharge opening between the respective abutment lugs Td and lic of the spout. 'Ihis is facilitated by inclining the lower portion, includlng edge 7b of the spout, relatively to aperture 9 and then twisting the spout to properly dispose said abutment lugs with lugs id on the exterior of the walland with lugs 8c engaging the interior of the wall. Thereafter the wings S are sprung together slightly to permit the rear abutment lugs 8o. to pass the side edges 9c of the opening and be disposed on the interior of the wall. The spout is then disposed in the open position shown in Fig. 3 and may be readily swung to the closed position shown in Fig. 2 with the body 'l completely covering the aperture and with the finger lip 'Fc slightly overlapping the upperv edge of the opening Sia. If desired, and as shown in Fig. 1. the thin label or wrapping L of the package may be adhesively applied to the container proper after the spout has been attached, thereby completely covering the body 'I of the spout and insuring the spout against any outward displacement during shipping or handling. As shown, the words Spout under here are printed on the label directly above the spout to indicate that the thin wrapper may be torn with the nger, the lip 'Ic engaged and the spout rendered accessible for use. In the closed position, it will be noted (see Figs. 1 and 2) that the lugs 1d extending laterally from the body of the spout, abut against the outer surface of the apertured container wall, positively preventing inward disconnection or displacement of the spout adjacent the hinge edge 1b. The fingerv piece 'lc at the upper end of the spout body prevents inward displacement of that part. In this closed position it will further be noticed that the forward edges of the lugs Scengage against the inner surface of the apertured container wall, posiward lugs 8c on the wings engage against the inner surfaces of the container wall, as also Vdo the flat surfaces of abutment lugs 8d, thereby positively preventing outward displacement of the spout during the pouring operation. Simultaneously the lower edges of the lugs 'ld are spa-ceda slight distance outwardly of the external wall of the container, but will positively prevent inward displacement of the spout during the pouring operation. The close cooperation bctween the abutment lugs Id and 8c, as has been set forth, provides a novel and extremely efficient means for `attaching the spout to permit hinge action thereof in a container wall with elimination of any chance of detachment or displacement of the spout, both inwardly and outwardly, during continuous use of the device. The said structure permits an eicient spout to be `readily attached 'to containers having relatively thin and flexible walls without the use of clips, fasteners,crimping or other permanent connection nieansat the hinge portion oi`. the spout.

In forming'my improved spout from the blank shownv in Fig. 4, it will be apparent that the sector wings 8 are bent from the body 1 on the dotted fold lines X, such bending leaving the cut or struck-out lugs 1d extending in the same plane with the body '1. The lugs Sc and 8d are bent outwardly from the straight edge of the wing portions to be disposed in a plane or planes substantially perpendicular to the respective planes of the wings 8.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing fromthe scope of my invention, which,

Ythe lower edge of said body being straight and constituting the hinge axis of said spout, said lower edge engaging and fulcruming upon the lip in said discharge opening, the curved edges of said wings beingsubstantially concentric with the hinge axis of said spout, said wings on their edges which extend from the hinged portion of said spout having aligned, substantially perpendicular projections extending outwardly and having edges disposed substantially in alignment with said lower edge of said central body, said edges engaging the inner wall of the container when the spout is in closed position and fulcruming on said inner wall during opening of said spout and the faces of said projections engaging the inner Wall of the container when said spout is in open position, and a pair of abutment elements projecting laterally from the wing adjacent sides of said body and lying in the plane of said body for engagement with the outer surfaces of said wall in the closed position of said spout.

2. In combination with a container having a quadrilateral discharge opening formed in a wall thereof, said wall having a convexly curved lip extending into said opening and defining one of the edges thereof, a pouring spout of trough shape having a central quadri-lateral body shaped to close said opening and provided with sector-shaped side wings extending substantially perpendicular to said body, the lower edge of said body being straight and constituting the hinge axis of said spout and engaging and fulcruming upon said lip with the lower edges of said wings accommodated in said opening at the sides of said lip when said spout is closed, the curved edges of said wings being substantially concentric with the hinge axis of said spout, said the inner wall of the container when said spoutl isfin open position, and a pair of abutment elements projecting laterally from the wing-adjacent sides of said body and lying in the plane of said body ior engagement with the outer surface of said wall in the closed position ofv said spout. Y

ALEXANDER PARSONS. 

